My Chengdu Food Journey – Authentic Chengdu Flavors

If you come to Chengdu, you absolutely cannot miss this attraction – Kuanzhai Alley.

Although it's called Kuanzhai Alley, it is actually made up of Jing Alley, Kuan Alley, and Zhai Alley. Here, you can experience the local street life of this city.

Kuanzhai Alley has always been a symbol of a leisurely and comfortable lifestyle. Some say Kuanzhai Alley is like Beijing's Nanluoguxiang, but in my opinion, Nanluoguxiang has an ancient and traditional charm, while Kuanzhai Alley is relaxed and舒缓. However, they both share one thing in common: they have a great variety of local snacks. The famous local delicacies here will definitely let you eat to your heart's content!

Because Kuanzhai Alley preserves a lot of old Chengdu culture, when you stroll through it, you will see a blend of history and modern fashion. But you'll find that there is no disharmony at all; instead, it creates a wonderful feeling. The rows of walls built with bricks from different eras, and the old-time street-life relief sculptures, make this afternoon in Chengdu leisurely and beautiful.

When you come to Kuanzhai Alley, don't say you're just here to see the sights and not eat anything – I'm afraid you'd be embarrassed to say you've been to Kuanzhai Alley. There are so many Chengdu snacks here, it's a real feast. I love the various kinds of wontons – sweet, salty, numbing, spicy – the taste is superb and the price is very cheap. Other recommendations include: Ma Ma Rabbit Head, diced rabbit, street-side chuan chuan, guokui (pancake), Zhong Dumplings, and Bo Bo Chicken. I also want to recommend a place here for sweet noodles – they really suit my taste, delicious and affordable, truly great.

Wandering through Kuanzhai Alley and feeling its charm, you'll find that here you can slowly enjoy a tranquility that is hard to find in everyday life. Sipping a cup of tea and eating Chengdu's special snacks – perhaps this is true enjoyment.

In ancient times, there was a saying, 'The wren nests in the deep forest'; today, there is 'The wren nests in Kuanzhai.' Speaking of Kuanzhai Alley, this is a bustling area of Chengdu. From ancient times to the present, high-ranking officials and nobles have settled here, and even ordinary people often wander around here, going back and forth.

Nowadays, tourists and pedestrians come in an endless stream. From afar, you can smell the aroma of snacks wafting from every corner of the alley, and your ears are filled with the voices of vendors, rhythmically hawking their goods.

The Jiaoliao Cultural Boutique Hotel, finding tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle, perches delicately and unpretentiously in the Kuanzhai Alley scenic area – at No. 28 Kuan Alley. The hotel is close to Metro Line 4. It is about 19 kilometers from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, about a 40-minute drive. Nearby, there are also famous attractions such as Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Tianfu Square, and Chunxi Road.

If you want to enjoy a peaceful holiday without missing out on the city's prosperity and excitement, the Jiaoliao Cultural Boutique Hotel is the perfect choice.

Before we came, we had already inquired about the origin of the hotel's name. It is said that Jiaoliao was originally a type of bird, derived from Zhuangzi's words: 'The wren nests in the deep forest, taking only a single branch.' This embodies a poetic dwelling that casts aside worldly troubles, guards the original heart, returns to nature, and achieves freedom and ease, as well as a life philosophy of returning to nature and远离尘嚣.

This time, however, the Jiaoliao does not nest in the deep forest but chooses such an alley full of the breath of human life, located on a long street crowded with tourists, opening up a resting place of urban woodland for guests from afar.

Amid the noisy crowd, we pushed open this old, grand door. The first thing that came into view was the main gate, with carved hollow patterns on the screen doors on both sides. Among them, the bat pattern symbolizes good fortune and happiness. The two bats at the corners, with water ripples above them, imply 'blessings as vast as the East Sea.' The bat on the central axis represents 'blessings falling from heaven.' Together with the one in the middle, they make up the 'Five Blessings Arriving at the Door.' It is hoped that every distinguished guest who comes here will enjoy longevity, a good death, wealth, health and peace, and virtue.

Passing through the courtyard and into the corridor, we saw a bamboo, a tile, flowing water, and rocks, giving a sense of antique elegance, as if entering a parallel space separate from the world's prosperity – separated only by a wall from the bustling outside. My friend, as if on a roll, kept saying how beautiful it was, taking pictures non-stop, happy as a child.

Entering the lobby, we observed carefully. The entire hotel's decoration style is full of the characteristics and elegance of Sichuan-style folk houses. The simple, antique, imitation-Qing ancient architecture combines movement and stillness, revealing the essence of landscape within a small space. It seems the owner of this hotel put a lot of heart into it, decorating it so exquisitely – no wonder it's so popular.

When we passed through the corridor, the parrots hanging on both sides, jumping up and down, became unusually active because of our arrival, chirping incessantly, which amused my friend. It seems these birds were also welcoming our stay!

The green bricks and black tiles of this hotel and the chirping of the birds are interconnected – one dynamic, one static, complementing the hotel's design style. Both the dynamic and static aspects are fully embodied.

The 'dynamic' is reflected in the meticulous details of the hotel's decoration – bird-shaped ornaments echo the hotel's name in various places.

The 'static' is reflected in the antique, brick-and-tile courtyard houses imitating the Qing dynasty, where every blade of grass and tree has a secluded charm, and every bamboo and stone exudes elegance, establishing a quiet and leisurely living tone – letting the mind wander freely in carefree ease.

Passing through the corridor, we arrived at the accommodation area. Entering the guest room, we could see that the materials used were all natural, solid raw wood. The room also features Shu embroidery – one of the four famous embroideries – and a duiwo (a traditional rice-pounding tool), fully interpreting the original intention of returning to simplicity.

Looking closely, we discovered that the hardware facilities in the room were also of great origin. Whether it was the bathroom fixtures, the fully intelligent sensor toilet, or the mattress, they were all configured according to the top standards of international five-star hotels. Understated luxury exudes a high-end vibe. Such configurations far exceed those of other hotels – how could our group not be tempted?

Inheriting the culture of Laozi and Zhuangzi, creating high-end facilities, not following the vulgar, not abandoning the world. The Jiaoliao Hotel allows you to find the perfect balance between lively bustle and peaceful seclusion, letting you enjoy the tranquility away from the world while still having the convenience of urban hustle – all for your unique experience.

Speaking of Sichuan, we must not forget the place where giant pandas live – the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Many people love the cute and naive appearance of giant pandas. In the past, I could only see giant pandas online. When browsing pictures, I found them soft, adorable, and cute. This time, coming to the panda base, thinking about seeing real giant pandas, my mood was especially excited – after all, they are our national treasure. 'Being cute for the country' – that's the real strength of baby pandas.

At this base, you will see many, many giant pandas – it's a completely different feeling from browsing pictures online!

Here, baby pandas enjoy a national-treasure-level treatment. The environment completely mimics the pandas' natural habitat in the wild.

There are lakes, streams, and of course, pandas' favorite food – bamboo!

Most notably, they have built 'panda villas' for them. These are also their daily leisure and entertainment venues. When the weather is cool, baby pandas play here – some stroll leisurely in the yard, some roll on the ground – a truly carefree scene!

Visitors can watch the adorable pandas through the railings. When it's hot, the pandas cleverly hide in their resting rooms, and visitors can only watch them snoozing inside through the glass.

In short, when you come to Sichuan, you must check out the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The pandas here are in all kinds of postures – you'll see everything you want to see.

The national treasure giant pandas are truly adorable – silly, cute, free, and happy. Suddenly I found myself quite envious of these pandas. Perhaps, and I'm not the only one who thinks so!

Eat Chuan Chuan in Full Swing

Location: Exit A of Huazhaobi Metro Station, just a few minutes' walk to Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan. The signboard is really eye-catching. When I walked in, I felt the style was unique, very Chinese, and kind of interesting.

I have to say their storefront decoration is quite grand. Inside, there are square tables with enough space between them, so it doesn't feel crowded. Sitting inside is also very comfortable.

The serving speed is quite fast. I must mention that their chuan chuan is the cold-pot type – you choose your ingredients, and the shop cooks them and brings them directly to you. No need to worry about whether the food is cooked; just eat as soon as it's served – very convenient.

The dry dipping powder is their specialty. The flavor is particularly good, with lots of crushed peanuts on top – it felt really nice. My friend loved it so much that he wanted to ask the shop for the exact seasoning recipe, but that's impossible; the shop won't reveal it. The dry dipping powder tastes good, but for someone like me who can't handle very spicy food, it's not quite suitable. If you love spicy food, this is your dipping weapon!

Of course, they have not only chuan chuan but also bowl dishes as their specialty. Many small bowl dishes with pretty good flavors. Recommended must-order items: Maohuoguo Fen (spicy hot pot vermicelli) – it's really delicious and very flavorful. Every strand of vermicelli is soaked in the broth – the taste is indescribably awesome, absolutely amazing!

Mao Tudou Tuotuo (poached potato chunks) is my favorite – not too spicy, and the potatoes paired with those seasonings are explosively good. The potatoes are not too hard nor too soft – just the right texture. I could eat a second bowl after finishing one!

My first time eating rabbit kidney was dedicated to Chengdu Gua Chuan Chuan. Unexpectedly, the rabbit kidney tasted great – even better than I imagined, just a little bit more delicious. The tender texture, one mouthful each – truly enjoyable.

After finishing the chuan chuan, have a bowl of ice jelly to cut the grease – life is so satisfying.